“And behold, there was a woman who had had a disabling spirit for eighteen years. She was bent over and could not fully straighten herself.” (Luke 13:11)
Are you bent over?
Do you find yourself with your head down? Not able to lift yourself up and stand straight….
Who hurt you?
Hurt you so deeply that you can’t seem to stand straight?
What has afflicted your soul?
Are you not able to pull away from your past or current situation?
Or…. Did you hurt someone? Someone you love? Someone whom loves you?
Are you a woman desperate for help but scared to show your face in a church?
Are you fearful of how people will treat you?
Have you given up hope and decided to hide your face from the world?
The story of a woman with a disabling spirit, in Luke 13:10-17, is one of my favorite stories from the Bible. She is a complete picture of how I felt for many years.
Do you remember what was wrong with her?
God’s Word says….
“Now he was teaching in one of the synagogues on the Sabbath. And behold, there was a woman who had had a disabling spirit for eighteen years. She was bent over and could not fully straighten herself.” (Luke 13:10-12)
So we see from this….. She was bent over. Had a disabling spirit. That had lasted for eighteen, long years.
“When Jesus saw her, he called her over and said to her, ‘Woman, you are freed from your disability.’ And he laid his hands on her, and immediately she was made straight, and she glorified God.” (Luke 13:12-13)
This is so beautiful….
Jesus is teaching in a synagogue. The woman walks in. Disrupts His teaching.
But He doesn’t get upset. Instead, Jesus calls her over to Him. And when she walks over….. she was freed from her disability.
This is so significant! If you are this woman…. bent over with any ailment that causes you shame, embarrassment, and hurt…. Jesus is waiting to heal you.
You can stand straight no matter what your circumstances are, but only with His healing power. Jesus did this for me. He can do it for you.
There is no shame in needing Jesus to do some healing work in you. I promise.
If every single person would be honest with themselves and others, we would all admit our need for Jesus to heal us.
Let’s flip it now….. If you are not bent over, there is still a great lesson for you to learn here.
When a Christian sees a woman whom….
Looks different, or acts different,
Talks different, or smells different,
Sees the world different, or lives a lifestyle different from you……
Let us be like Jesus…..
Let us make the first move. Engage with her. Show kindness. Be her friend.
Just simply…. be the hands and feet of Jesus.
If we don’t live out the example Jesus left for us, what would He think of our cold behavior?
Scripture shows us….
“But the ruler of the synagogue, indignant because Jesus had healed on the Sabbath, said to the people, ‘There are six days in which work ought to be done. Come on those days and be healed, and not on the Sabbath day.” (Luke 13:14)
They were not worried about healing the sick. They were self-righteous. They wanted a life of rituals. Then add on top of this, the ruler wouldn’t even address Jesus face-to-face. Instead, he addresses the people.
Do you ever look around your church on Sunday mornings and see women like this shunned? Mocked? Ridiculed? Dismissed?
If so, be the first one to make it right. Go be the example Jesus set before us.
If you choose not to, how would Jesus react to you?
Well Scripture clearly tells us what Jesus said to the ruler of the synagogue…….
“Then the Lord answered him, ‘You hypocrites!…..’” (Luke 13:15)
Please don’t let this be you. Don’t be a hypocrite. Don’t let this be what Jesus would call you.
Instead, be Christ-like. Be the example Jesus set before us. Draw people to Christ through your love towards them. The love from the Holy Spirit that dwells within you as a Christian.
God bless!! Love you all!
